Quake 4 Mods For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) [Paperback]

Erik Guilfoyle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2006 | Series: For Dummies (Computer/Tech)

Create your own levels and game mods



Build single- and multi-player levels, add scripts, and share your mods

Ever wonder what Quake 4 would be like if it included that especially cool weapon you dreamed up? Here's the fun and easy way? to find out. Start by creating a basic level, and then discover how to include your own weapons and effects, change colors, add textures, and send your creations out into the world.

Everything you need to get started --
* Adobe? Photoshop? Elements tryout version
* WinZip? evaluation version
* The Compressonator and NormalGapGenerator by ATI Technologies, Inc.
* Sample tools, textures, and examples from the book
* For details and complete system requirements, see the CD-ROM appendix.


Discover how to
* Work with various modding tools
* Develop a map
* Alter user interfaces
* Paint and decorate your level
* Script advanced actions
* Distribute your creations online

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Create your own levels and game mods

Build single- and multi-player levels, add scripts, and share your mods

Ever wonder what Quake 4 would be like if it included that especially cool weapon you dreamed up? Here's the fun and easy way® to find out. Start by creating a basic level, and then discover how to include your own weapons and effects, change colors, add textures, and send your creations out into the world.

Everything you need to get started —

• Adobe® Photoshop® Elements tryout version
• WinZip® evaluation version
• The Compressonator and NormalGapGenerator by ATI Technologies, Inc.
• Sample tools, textures, and examples from the book
• For details and complete system requirements, see the CD-ROM appendix.

Discover how to

• Work with various modding tools
• Develop a map
• Alter user interfaces
• Paint and decorate your level
• Script advanced actions
• Distribute your creations online

About the Author

Erik Guilfoyle is the originator and manager of the game-modding Web site www.modsonline.com, as well as vice president of a company specializing in 3D modeling, animation, and motion graphics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 388 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (August 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470037466
• ISBN-13: 978-0470037461
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,220,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Erik "foyleman" Guilfoyle joined the game-modding scene shortly after the release of Half Life in early 2000 by creating a custom level and supporting material for the game. After that, Erik was hooked on modding games.

Two years and a lot of practice later, Soldier of Fortune was released. Erik jumped at the opportunity to map a custom level for this game and was among the first to release a map for the game with custom textures. This led to a flurry of emails requesting advice for constructing custom material, and the beginning of a compendium of game modification tutorials.

Not much later, Erik started up his own Web site to host existing and new tutorials. The site grew until he had the largest collection of tutorials on the Internet for Call of Duty mapping. Now, Erik is running the MODSonline.com modding community with the assistance of two other administrators and several friends, covering many games including Quake 4. As new games are released, he starts off the tutorials section with beginner instruction and leads the member forums in preparation for the next up-and-coming game.

Aside from his love for games, Erik is also the vice president of an established media company, Tres Inc. His company has been producing 3D models, animations, motion graphics, and websites for companies and corporations throughout New Jersey for over five years. Tres Inc. is now working on an animated short and preparing for a game of its own.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what expected, advertised, August 31, 2006

By 

D. Phelps (Grand Island, NE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quake 4 Mods For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

The title is Quake 4 Mods for Dummies. The tag line is "Ever wonder what Quake 4 would be like if it included that especially cool weapon you dreamed up? Here's the fun and easy way® to find out." But here's the deal: it will show you how to INCLUDE that fancy new weapon, but not how to make it. Nor will it tell you how to change the gameplay mechanics of the game.
What you get instead is 200+ pages of how to make maps. At the end of that is a small section on how to make a GUI, reskin models, and package them for putting into the game.
I'm giving it 3 stars because it seems like a pretty nice map tutorial, but this is NOT a book on how to make mods. If you wanted to learn how to make that machine-gun-shotgun, you're out of luck here. If you wanted to find out how to make new power-ups, you're out of luck here.
Summary, the book would be better named Quake 4 Mapping for Dummies.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mapping and Modding, January 13, 2007

By 

Erik Guilfoyle "foyleman" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quake 4 Mods For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

While this book does primarily cover mapping for Quake 4 (which is a form of modding), it also covers other aspects of modding (although in lesser detail). However, if you want to make a new level for the game, this book rocks. It comes with complete examples on making maps from start to finish. It shows you how to make custom textures for your maps and characters. Then it shows you how to package and release your map to the world.

[...]

Definitely worth the price. You'll be making your own maps for your friends or clan by the end of the weekend.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A dummies book...for dummies, January 27, 2007

By 

Willaim Jarvis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quake 4 Mods For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

Sadly this thing only really covers Map making,with the title it has I would cry foul and demand your money back,unless you are focusing on maping.